Prevention and druguse by adolescents of 12 to 21 years in Brussels.

In the past two years (1994-1995) ,ID 1941140990 and ID 1951140980, we conducted a survey on use of alcohol, illicit drugs, medication and gambling among youngsters aged 12 to 22 in Brussels in relation to their leisure activities. Analysis of the results show that the use of drugs mostly relates to experimental and recreational use. In a second phase of the research project (ID1961140890) we make an inventory of the prevention- and intervention possibilities who are available in Brussels at this moment. Over the years, a variety of approaches has been developed and tested to prevent or reduce substance use or abuse among adolescents. However, the development of effective prevention strategies has proven to be far more difficult than was initially imagined. In the early 1990s a prevention program has been developed in Flanders. 'Leefsleutels' was based on this Life Skills Training and adjusted to the Flemish culture. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which this type of prevention is effective. The research will be designed in a small-scale pilot study, involving just a few hundred students in schools who have already some expertises in using 'Leefsleutels'.